182. Benjamin Franklin and Confucius Moral Philosophy

In its famous E-Magazine, the World Huran Federation based in Australia published in February 2010 Dr. Wang's Article, Benjamin Franklin and Confucius Moral Philosophy. In the following please enjoy his article:

Since January 2006, Benjamin Franklin’s 300th anniversary, Dr. Dave Wang has been moving around to various places from North America, Europe to Asia to talk about Benjamin Franklin’s efforts to use the positive elements from Chinese civilization in his effort to help build a new society in North America during the formative age of the United States. In October 2006 he talked about Benjamin Franklin’s using Confucius moral philosophy to cultivate his virtue in Rome, Italy. Dr. Wang wrote a summary of his talk and had it published in the title of “Exploring Benjamin Franklin’s Moral Life” in Franklin Gazette (Volume 17, Number 1, Spring 2007). Not long ago Ms. Carol Smith, his editor, transferred the letter from Dr. Mark Skousen, the author of recently published The Completed Autobiography by Benjamin Franklin and the eighth generation of Benjamin Franklin’s descendants. In the letter Dr. Skousen raised a question to Dr. Wang. Since his question might reflect other audience’s or readers’ thinking of my argument of Franklin’s using Confucius moral philosophy to cultivate his virtue, I will quote it in the following:

Dear Editor,

RE: Dave Wang's article on Franklin and his moral philosopher raises an interesting question: If indeed Franklin was so deeply influenced by Confucius, as Dr. Wang suggests, why then did he leave out any mention of Confucius in his Autobiography, especially in his list of virtues? Virtue #13 states, "Imitate Jesus and Socrates." Confucius is left out.

Thanks, AEIOU,

Mark Skousen

Please read Dr. Wang's article, Benjamin Franklin and Confucius Moral Philosophy through this link.